ISEAS Perspective provides analysis of specific current events and their significance for the Southeast Asian region. This will be published occasionally, and is aimed at keeping decision-makers in both the public and private sectors informed; as well as scholars, laymen and the interested public. This series undergoes a peer-review process.
2023/97 “Malaysia’s Return to Mining: Redeveloping Rare Earth Elements (REE)” by Tham Siew Yean and Neo Hui Yun Rebecca
2023 No. 97
Increasing scrutiny of mineral resources at the global level has led to greater domestic interest in Malaysia’s mineral resources.
2023/96 “Vietnam’s Quest for Enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness” by Bich Tran
2023 No. 96
Vietnam is a maritime nation with a long coastline and a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). As such, maritime domain awareness (MDA) is essential for the country to protect its maritime security.
2023/95 “The Prabowo-Gibran Pairing: Wise or Foolish?” by Burhanuddin Muhtadi and Kennedy Muslim
2023 No. 95
The latest Indikator poll shows a significant increase in support for Prabowo among youth voters (Gen-Z and millennials), after the announcement and registration of the Prabowo-Gibran presidential ticket at the General Elections Commission (KPU).
2023/94 “UMNO’s Prospects: Oblivion, Survival or Recovery” by Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani
2023 No. 94
UMNO-BN in the Unity Government will boost Malaysia’s political stability, economic prosperity, and integration, while also moderating polarisation. In order to remain relevant, UMNO will need to appeal to progressive and moderate Malays.
2023/93 “The August Poll in Penang: A Perspective on Pakatan, its Partners and its Prospects” by Francis E. Hutchinson
2923 No. 93
Penang is diverse, with large Bumiputera (45.2 per cent), Chinese (44.5 per cent), and Indian (9.7 per cent) communities.
2023/92 “Myanmar-Russia Relations Since the Coup: An Ever Tighter Embrace” by Ian Storey
2023 No. 92
Myanmar-Russia relations have strengthened considerably since Moscow acknowledged the Tatmadaw’s seizure of power on 1 February 2021, and the junta endorsed the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
2023/91 “The Challenge of “Halal Lifestyle” and Occupational Preferences in Indonesia” by Iim Halimatusa’diyah and Wahyudi Akmaliah
2023 No. 91
The concept of “halal lifestyle”, which is considered to be aligned with Islamic principles, is highly popular in Indonesia today.
2023/90 “Negeri Sembilan Emerges as PH-BN’s Steadiest Stronghold” by Kevin Zhang and James Chin
2023 No. 90
PH-BN performed the best in Negeri Sembilan among the six states which were up for grabs, even better than Penang and Selangor which are long considered as PH’s bastions.
2023/89 “From Political Islam to Islamic Lifestyles: The Changing Public Face of Islam in Indonesia” by Syafiq Hasyim
2023 No. 89
There is a noticeable change in the position of political Islam in Indonesia’s public sphere, especially since the decline of Islamist organisations in the last decade.
2023/88 “How Far Will PAS Deviate from the Ulama Leadership Model, and Why Does it Matter?” by Azmil Tayeb
2023 No. 88
PAS may accommodate leaders and members with different backgrounds, but the top leadership positions are dominated by those versed in Islamic studies.